Croquet wicket assembly

ABSTRACT

A croquet wicket assembly including a wicket frame which is formed of heavy rod stock, is of right angle configuration, i.e., U-shaped and is provided with a removable snap-on plastic flag which is attached to and suspended with stable equilibrium from the horizontal bridge portion of the frame so that it projects into the path of such croquet balls as may pass through the wicket frame for displacement thereby in order to verify such passage. Numerical indicia on the opposite faces of the flag identify the procedural order of wicket use when the wicket assembly is employed in conjunction with a full complement of similar croquet wickets. The vertical dimension of the flag and its positional relationship with respect to the horizontal bridge portion of the wicket frame are such that the mid-point of such dimension lies in a horizontal plane which is spaced from the ground a distance approximately equal to the diameter of a croquet ball.

United States Patent Thompson CROQUET WICKET ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor:Arnold M. Thompson, Box 172A,

Gary Ave., Wheaton, 111. 60090 22 Filed: Sept.21, 1970 211 Appl.No.:73,708

[52] US. Cl ..273/56, 273/102 AP, 273/127 D, 273/181 .1 [51] Int. Cl...A63d 1/00 [58] Field of Search..273/56, 102 AP, 127 D, 181 A, 273/181J [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,055 12/1939 Driscoll..273/127 D 88,335 3/1869 Smith ..273/56 3,451,682 6/1969 Trimble..273/127 R 3,251,069 5/1966 Clark ..24/81 CC X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 261,321 1963 Australia ..273/127 D [4 1 Oct. 3, 1972Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice BrownAttorney-Norman H. Gerlach [57] ABSTRACT A croquet wicket assemblyincluding a wicket frame which is formed of heavy rod stock, is of rightangle configuration, i.e., U-shaped and is provided with a removablesnap-on plastic flag which is attached to and suspended with stable 1equilibrium from the horizontal bridge portion of the frame so that itprojects into the path of such croquet balls as may pass through thewicket frame for displacement thereby in order to verify such passage.Numerical indicia on the opposite faces of the flag identify theprocedural order of wicket use when the wicket assembly is employed inconjunction with a full complement of similar croquet wickets. Thevertical dimension of the flag and its positional relationship withrespect to the horizontal bridge portion of the wicket frame are suchthat the mid-point of such dimension lies in a horizontal plane which isspaced from the ground a distance approximately equal to the diameter ofa croquet ball.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucIa I972 3.695.610

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1 CROQUET WICKET ASSEMBLY wicket assembly embodying the principles ofthe present invention is capable of being employed, with or withoutmodification as required, in connection with various games of skill inwhich a ball is required to pass through one or more wickets.Irrespective of the particular use to which the present wicket assembly,may

be put, the essential features thereof are at all times v preserved.

The invention is specifically concerned with a croquet wicket assemblyhaving associated therewith novel signalling means for verifying thepassage of a croquet ball through the wicket frame. According to theinvention, the wicket frame is of right angle construction (invertedU-shape configuration) and the signalling means is in the form of aremovable flat snapon plastic flag which is hingedly connected to anddepends from the horizontal bight portion of the frame and projects intothe wicket frame opening so that it normally lies in the general planeof the wicket frame. The height of the wicket frame and the verticaldimension of the flag is such that a ball passing through the opening inthe wicket frame displaces the flag out of the plane of the frame,thereby giving a visual indication that thewicket has properlybeentraversed. After the ball has cleared the wicket, the flag swingsback to its normal position within the wicket frame opening.

The hinged joint between the flag and the horizontal bight portion ofthe wicket frame constitutes the aforementioned removable snap-onconnection. Removability of the flag from the wicket frame affords theadvantage that when the requisite number of wicket assemblies toconstitute a full wicket complement for a game of croquet are dismantledfor storage purposes (for example in the packaging box therefor) thewicket frames may be stacked or tied together and the flags similarlystacked and nested within the stack or group of frames. Suchremovability of the flag from the wicket frame affords the furtheradvantage of baring the corners of the wicket for impact purposes sothat the frame may be driven into the ground by vertical mallet blowsduring installation of the wicket assembly on the playing field withoutdamaging the aforementioned signalling flag, the latter being capable ofassembly on the wicket frame after the latter has thus been operativelydriven into the ground.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of ameans for indicating the sequential order of wicket play for aregulation game of croquet, such means being in the form of numericalindicia rustproof, and one which is attractive in its appearance andpleasing in its design are further desirable features which have beenborne in mind in the production and development of the presentinvention.

The invention consists in the :several novel features which arehereinafter described and are more particularly defined by the claims atthe conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying single sheet of drawings forming a part of thisapplication, one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wicket assembly embodying theprinciples of the present invenl 5 tion and showing the same operativelymounted in the ground;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded sectional view illustratingone of the snap-on hinge connections which are employed for removablysecuring the signal flag to the wicket frame; and 1 FIG. 4 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the nature of certain flag-indicia whichare employed in connec- 2 5 tion with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a croquet wicket assemblyembodying the present invention is designated in its entirety by thereference numeral 10 and comprises two parts, namely, a wicket frame 12and a vane-like signal flag 14. The frame 12 of the wicket assembly 10differs from conventional arched wicket frames in that it is ofrectangular design and consists of a pair of vertical side legs 16 and,in addition, a connecting bridge portion 18 which extends .horizontallybetween and is formed integrally with the upper ends of the side legs 16and merges therewith at its ends by arcuate portions 20 of small radiusof curvature. The lower ends of the legs 14 are preferably pointed asindicated at 22 in order to facilitate their forcible entry into theground surface 24. The frame is formed of heavy gauge rustproofcylindrical metal rod stock, preferably aluminum, so that it willwithstand abuse and not bend when struck by a croquet ball duringtheplaying of a game of croquet.

5 serving the dual function of rendering a visible signal when a croquetball passes through the opening which is established by theabove-the-ground or exposed portion of the frame 12 and the surface ofthe ground into which the frame is driven, and also of identifying theparticular wicket being played. Accordingly, the vanelike signal flag 14is in the form of a molded plastic sheet of a suitable thermoplasticresin, the'sheet being relatively thick so as to lend sufficient weightthereto that it will resist wind deflection..The flag includes a whichare variously provided on the opposite sides of generally rectangularflat body Portion 26 [having a the wicket-associated flags, the indiciaplacement being such that a player is at all times apprized of theproper wicket to be played whether he or she is an outgoing player or anincoming player.

The provision of a wicket assembly in which the wicket frame is ruggedand durable and will not bend when struck by a croquet ball, one inwhich the frame is horizontal dimension which is but. slightly less thanthe distance between the two arcuate portions 20 of the wicket frame 12,and a vertical dimension which is such that when the flag is pivotally:suspended from the bridge portion 18 of the wicket frame as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, it lies wholly within the rectangular confines of theframe. The vertical distance between the lower edge of the flag and theground is somewhat less than the diameter of a conventional croquet ball(such as is shown in dotted lines at B) which is used in connection withthe wicket assembly 10.

The means for pivotally suspending the flag within the wicket opening isin the form of a pair of snap-on connections in the form of integralenlargements 30 which are provided at the upper corner regions of theflag body 26. Each enlargement has formed therein a laterally facinggroove 32 (see FIG, 3) which defines a semi-cylindrical socket 34, thediameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the aluminumrod stock from which the wicket frame 12 is formed. The socket 34 ofeach snap-on connection opens laterally by way of a narrow throatportion 36 of a width slightly less than the diameter of said rod stock.

The flag 14 is installed on the horizontal bridge portion 18 of thewicket frame 12 by forcing the throat portions 36 of the snap-onconnections against the bridge portion 18 as indicated by the arrow inFIG. 3, whereupon the throat sides will spread apart and allow thebridge portion 18 to snap into position within the two sockets 34 of theenlargements 30. When the flag 14 has been installed on the bridgeportion in this manner, the fact that the diameter of the socket 34 isslightly larger than that of the bridge portion 18 of the wicket frame12 will allow the flag to hang freely within the wicket frame opening aspreviously described for displacement by passage of a croquet ball suchas the ball B through the wicket frame opening in either direction.

It is to be noted that as shown in FIG. 1, when the wicket frame 12 isproperly installed on the ground 24, the mid-point of the verticaldimension of the flag 14 lies in a horizontal plane which is disposedabove the ground a distance substantially equal to the diameter of thecroquet ball B, and that the lower edge of the flag lies in a horizontalplane which substantially bisects the exposed portions of the verticalside legs 16 of the wicket frame 12. By such an arrangement optimumfunctioning of the flag for signalling purposes is attained. Forexample, if the vertical extent of the flag is excessive, or if it hangstoo close to the ground, appreciable resistance to passage of thecroquet ball through the wicket frame opening is offered. If thevertical extent of the flag is not adequate, only a small displacementthereof will take place as the ball passes through the wicket frameopening and flag movement may not be noticed by the players.

It is contemplated according to the present invention that for aregulation game of croquet, there shall be provided the usual number ofwicket assemblies 10, i.e., nine such assemblies, with the variousassemblies being positioned roughly according to the schematic diagramof FIG. 4. In such figure of the drawings the playing field is indicatedby the rectangle 40 and the various wicket assemblies define the playingpath to be pursued in proceeding from the proximate home stake 42 to theoutlying stake 44 and from thence back to the home stake 42 as iscustomarily in connection with a regulation game of croquet. In order toindicate the procedural order of playing the game, the flag 14 of eachwicket assembly is provided with either one numerical indicium on oneface thereof or with two numerical indicia, one 'on each side thereof.Such a numerical indicium is indicated at 46 in FIG. 1 of the drawingsand is preferably in the form of an integral embossment having a coatingof paint of a color that is different from the color of the flag.

The specific application of indicia to the various flags 14 of the ninewicket assemblies are schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 4 wherein thenumerals 1 through 7 face in the general direction of the home stake 42and the numerals 8 through 14 face in the general direction of theoutlying stake 44. It will be observed that since the four most widelylaterally spaced wicket assemblies 10 require only one passage of a balltherethrough, namely, during the third, fifth, tenth and twelfth wickettraverse, the flags 14 which are associated with these assemblies arenumbered on one side only.

It will be appreciated that if desired the numerical indicia may beomitted from the flags 14 but when such indicia are employed the mosteffective setting up of a croquet game will be carried out by firstdriving the various wicket frames 12 in position in the ground, afterwhich proper application of the flags thereto may be made in accordancewith the numerical pattern which is represented by the disclosure ofFIG. 4.

It is to be noted that the overall horizontal span of the twohinge-forming enlargements 30 of the flag of the wicket assembly 10 isslightly less than the distance between the points where the arcuateportions 20 of the frame commence their curvature. Thus, when the flag14 is installed on the wicket frame 12, the former is centered, so tospeak, within the wicket frame opening and cannot shift laterally ineither direction more than a very slight distance and thus the verticalside edges of the flag will at all times clear the side legs 16 of theframe. Additionally, since the flag is unable to shift laterally, thearcuate portions 20 are accessible for impact blows during driving ofthe wicket frame into the ground.

Ordinarily, when during the playing of a game of croquet a player is inreasonably close proximity to a particular wicket through which he isobliged effectively to traverse, passage of the ball through aconventional distance from such wicket as, for example, when he isoutside the actual playing field (there being no out-of-bounds limit ina conventional croquet game) a well aimed, or even accidental, passageof a ball through a proper wicket is not a rarity. Under suchcircumstances the fact that the ball actually passed through the wicketmay be in doubt due to lack of sufficient visibility on the part of theplayer or his opponent. However, when wicket assembly of the presentinvention is used, displacement of the flag 14 thereof will render aclear indication of such passage of the ball through the wicket frame12, either at the actual time of passage or subsequently during residualswinging of the flag after the ball has passed through the wicket frame.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore,only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in theaccompanying claim is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

. flag pivotally suspended from the bridge portion of the frame forswinging movement about the horizontal axis of said bridge portion, saidflag being of generally rectangular configuration and formed of aresilient plastic material and having its upper edge disposed in closeproximity to said bridge portion of the wicket frame, the verticaldimension of the flag and its positional relationship with respect tosaid bridge portion of the wicket frame being such that the mid-point ofsuch dimension lies in a horizontal plane which is spaced from theground a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the croquetball, the lower edge of the flag being disposed above the ground adistance greater than the radius of the croquet ball, the pivotalconnection between the bridge portion of the wicket frame and the flagconsisting of a snap-on connection at each upper comer region of therectangular flag, each snapon connection comprising an integralenlargement which projects upwardly above the level of said upper edgeof the flag and is formed with a laterally facing groove defining abridge portion receiving socket which opens laterally by a narrow throatportion of a width slightly less than the thickness of the bridgeportion, the side legs of the wicket frame being connected to the bridgeportion by small arcuate portions whereby the flag is maintainedcentered between the two side legs of the wicket frame, the oppositesides of the flag being provided with different numerical indicia, oneindicium being indicative of an outgoing croquet station and the otherindicium being indicative of an incoming croquet station.

1. In combination, a croquet wicket assembly and a cooperating croquetball with a predetermined diameter, said wicket assembly comprising aninverted generally U-shaped wicket frame formed of relatively heavygauge rod stock and having parallel side legs which are adapted to bedriven into the ground, and at the upper ends of the side legs aninterconnecting horizontal bridge portion which, in combination withsaid side legs and ground, establishes a generally rectangular wicketframe opening through which said croquet ball is adapted to pass, and aflat rectangular flag pivotally suspended from the bridge portion of theframe for swinging movement about the horizontal axis of said bridgeportion, said flag being of generally rectangular configuration andformed of a resilient plastic material and having its upper edgedisposed in close proximity to said bridge portion of the wicket frame,the vertical dimension of the flag and its positional relationship withrespect to said bridge portion of the wicket frame being such that themid-point of such dimension lies in a horizontal plane which is spacedfrom the ground a distance approximately equal to the diameter of thecroquet ball, the lower edge of the flag being disposed above the grounda distance greater than the radius of the croquet ball, the pivotalconnection between the bridge portion of the wicket frame and the flagconsisting of a snap-on connection at each upper corner region of therectangular flag, each snap-on connection comprising an integralenlargement which projects upwardly above the level of said upper edgeof the flag and is formed with a laterally facing groove defining abridge portion receiving socket which opens laterally by a narrow throatportion of a width slightly less than the thickness of the bridgeportion, the side legs of the wicket frame being connected to the bridgeportion by small arcuate portions whereby the flag is maintainedcentered between the two side legs of the wicket frame, the oppositesides of the flag being provided with different numerical indicia, oneindicium being indicative of an outgoing croquet station and the otherindicium being indicative of an incoming croquet station.